Srinagar: A 'political activist' Ghulam Nabi Patel was shot dead by terrorists in Pulwama's Rajpora in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. His vehicle was fired upon when he was coming to Pulwama from Yader. He later succumbed to injuries on the way to the hospital.

Patel's two personal security officers also sustained injuries. Patel was a resident of Shadimarg area.

Meanwhile, the ruling PDP and opposition Congress were locked in a row over the party affiliation of the victim.

Ghulam Nabi Patel sahib was associated both with Congress (earlier) & PDP (in recent years). What is important is that another political activist has been targeted. His loss impacts all political parties in Kashmir. May he rest in peace. https://t.co/6VjG4DQ7EE

A Congress party spokesperson, while strongly condemning the killing, said in a statement Patel was a 'well-known PDP activist', PTI reported. In a statement, Anwar Bhat, vice president of the state's Congress unit, said the killings, in any form, were highly condemnable and must be condemned by every section of the people. He offered deepest condolences to the bereaved family.

On the other hand, expressing condolence, J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti called him a Congress leader and tweeted:

Heartfelt condolences to the family of senior Congress leader, G. N. Patel who was killed by militants today in Rajpora. Such cowardly acts achieve nothing but leave one more family devastated.

How tragic that Patel Sahib, a political worker assassinated by militants in Kashmir is being disowned by both the PDP & Congress. If neither party is willing to own him as one of their own let’s just call him a NC worker so his death is not in vain.

Ghulam Nabi Patel is being denied the dignity of having been assassinated for belonging to a political party just so the PDP & Congress can lie to their workers to claim they aren’t at risk from militant bullets.